From the 3/4
Classrooms
Term 4 - Our Island Home
Get ready for a term filled with adventure, creativity and exciting discoveries! As we head into our final term of 2026, we have plenty of wonderful learning experiences ahead of us. From exploring the world around us to bringing our ideas to life, Term 4 promises to be a fantastic way to celebrate our learning, embrace new challenges and finish the year on a high!
English:
This term in English, students will begin by exploring figurative language and literary devices, including similes, metaphors and personification. They will discover how authors use these techniques in poetry to create vivid images, express ideas and engage readers. Students will also have opportunities to experiment with figurative language in their own writing.
We will then move into our narrative writing unit, where students will explore the structure and key features of a story. They will plan and write their own engaging narratives, focusing on developing interesting characters, settings and plots. Students will learn to use descriptive vocabulary and creative language choices to bring their stories to life.
During our Mentor Text Reading sessions, we will be reading Are We There Yet? by Alison Lester. Students will follow the main character’s journey around Australia, exploring how illustrations, descriptive language and storytelling work together to create an engaging narrative. Through this text, students will also discover Australia’s diverse landscapes and explore how stories and journeys can be brought to life through both words and images.
Maths:
In Mathematics this term, students will revisit and consolidate key concepts covered throughout the year, while continuing to develop their mathematical understanding and problem-solving skills. They will apply their knowledge to a range of practical activities and real-world situations.
Our learning will focus on:
- Algorithms and Patterns: Creating, describing and following rules and algorithms.
- Multiplicative Thinking: Developing flexible strategies for multiplication and division.
- The Four Operations: Using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to solve worded problems.
- Financial Mathematics: Exploring money, budgeting and everyday financial problem-solving.
- Probability: Investigating the likelihood of different events and making predictions.
- Space: Exploring shapes, location, position and spatial reasoning.
Throughout the term, students will be encouraged to explain their thinking, share strategies and develop confidence in applying their mathematical skills to new challenges.
Integrated Studies :
This term, students will explore Australia and our island neighbours, developing their understanding of the world around them. They will learn to think like geographers by researching different places, interpreting maps and investigating the natural and human features that make each location unique.
Students will explore climate zones, biomes, food chains and rock formations, discovering how these features influence the environments in which people and animals live. They will also learn about the cultures, symbols, values and identities of different island nations, developing an appreciation for the diversity of communities across our region.
To celebrate their learning, students will work collaboratively to design and create their very own island! They will plan, model and map their island, incorporating unique geographical features and natural environments, while developing its own identity. This hands-on project will provide an opportunity for students to apply their research, mapping and creative problem-solving skills.
STEM:
This term in STEM, students will explore the fascinating world of living things and discover how plants and animals grow and change throughout their lives. They will learn to classify living things, non-living things, once-living things and products of living things.
Students will investigate the life cycles of different animals, exploring how some undergo complete or incomplete metamorphosis while others develop without metamorphosis. They will also discover the important role plants play in our environment by investigating how seeds are dispersed and how flowering plants grow, including the processes of germination and pollination.
Through hands-on investigations, research and class discussions, students will develop their scientific thinking and observation skills as they ask questions, make discoveries and deepen their understanding of the natural world.
Home Learning Reminders
To support our learning at school, we ask that students complete the following home learning each week:
- Read for 30 minutes each night
- Complete the weekly activity from the Maths Home Learning Grid that was sent home earlier in the term.
- Practise weekly spelling words each night (Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check)
- Multiplication Practice - sent home each week
The maths, spelling and multiplication sheets are glued in Home Learning books, and students should bring these each Monday to receive new home learning for the week ahead and to submit their homework for the previous week to their teachers.
Important Term 4 Dates:
Monday 2nd November - Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 3rd November - Melbourne Cup Public Holiday
Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th November - Grade 3 / 4 Camp Phillip Island Adventure Resort
Monday 7th December - Swimming Program begins
Tuesday 8th December - Whole School Transition Day
Wednesday 9th to Monday 14th December - Swimming Program continues and concludes
Friday 18th of December - Last Day of Term 4. Early Dismissal 1:30pm
Prepared by the Grade 3/4 Teachers